Jim McElwain | Central Michigan Head Coach
Opening Statement
First off, I am proud of our fight, and I thought the guys never quit. I think the team on the other side knew what the Chippewas were all about towards the end of that game, and that is something that makes me proud. We said going into game we need to play some field position, and at the end of the day, they got their points on short field. Now, quarter one's over for us, and we get into quarter number two and that starts league play. We are excited to make that happen.
Q: Talking about those penalties, do you think the environment that you guys were playing in had any impact on those?
A: No, you can call a penalty if you want to on every play if you want to right. The choice in that decision is on when. I am not blaming it on that at all, don't get me wrong. It's just amazing how that stuff works when you are playing on the road. The guys were fighting their tails off to play.
Q: Could you touch more on the secondary, especially because there's been some shuffling around. What steps do you see them taking?
A: We've got some good young players there. We knew we had good young players, yet sometimes you don't know it until you get them tested. To see those guys get a little better while we are playing the game, it's great to see, and were going to be alright.
Q: Coach, you mentioned the turnovers. You get down 14 to nothing but you kept in it, and I feel like that's a sign that this team has taken some steps.
A: It is, and you know that's a hell of a defense. They have got some of the best players that money can buy. They are really good. You know our guys move the ball. We had a 12-play drive there in the second half, and then we got another drive. Then of course, suddenly the penalty markers come out. As soon as you get down ready to score, but that's what it is when you're on the road, and I guess I'll get fined for saying that. But that's the way it works.